Shmuel Shayowitz has built his career on identifying and forming partnerships with successful entities and organizations that can provide real value for his clients.

Shayowitz is president and chief lending officer of Approved Funding, a widely respected national mortgage banker and direct lender based in River Edge, New Jersey, and a successful real estate investor and property manager. He is also a financial, personal and business coach who has worked with the Orthodox Union, several chambers of commerce, The Jewish Entrepreneur (TJE) and many professional associations. He lives with his family in Bergen County.

A few years ago, Shayowitz became aware of a small firm, based in Long Island, that is very well regarded for its work in guiding people to refine their approach to job searching.

Wayfind Careers is a career and leadership development consulting group, founded in 2016 by Adele Dubin and Natasha Srulowitz, whose work is informed by their years of high-level corporate experience. Wayfind’s mission is “to empower young people in the Jewish community with the clarity and confidence to make wise, informed career decisions.” According to Srulowitz, Wayfind has served thousands of clients in the eight years since it was founded.

Shayowitz had a few relatives who used Wayfind and were very pleased with the results. Two of his children also used Wayfind. Shayowitz decided that “I loved the concept and recognized the need they were filling. I wanted to help them, as a company, to grow and expand their business.” He approached Srulowitz and Dubin about his interest in helping his clients and others know more about this exceptional service provider.

Shayowitz started serving as an advisory board executive for Wayfind Careers in late 2023. He noted, “In a post-COVID and post October 7th world, the demand to better understand college options and career paths is more critical than ever.”

Shayowitz is confident that many more people can benefit, in a big way, from the services provided by Wayfind. And he points out that, with Wayfind’s capability of providing all their services virtually, the company can serve clients anywhere in the United States and in many places abroad. Wayfind already has satisfied clients in Israel, Florida, Lakewood, Borough Park, California and other locations.

As Srulowitz shared with The Jewish Link, Wayfind’s comprehensive process begins with a thorough online aptitude assessment to identify an individual’s natural strengths, completed before the first meeting. This is followed by a 90-minute results review session to develop a strength profile via the test results and the perspective of the individual. After the session, individuals receive a customized research packet with identified career matches to narrow down to initial career options.

A one-hour follow-up session is then conducted to evaluate career interests, analyze and narrow down options, and develop a personalized career plan. Their package fees range from $500 to $1,200. They also offer a tailored package for experienced professionals. Investing in the Wayfind process helps individuals understand their strengths and find the career path that fits them best.

Wayfind is proud to have many satisfied clients.“Thank you for being such a big resource and influence in my future career path,” said Devon Lafaille of California. “This experience has also helped shape me into a better person and I hope to bring that forward in my career decisions.”

“I would like to thank Wayfind Careers for helping and guiding me,” said Esther Chait of Queens. “After completing a bachelor’s in science I was unsure how to move forward. I reached out to Wayfind for help in choosing a career path. They provided me with a non-stressful, useful and non-pressurizing way to figure out what the next step of my educational/professional life should be. … Not only did they lead me forward in choosing a career, they actually made me more self-aware.”

“Thanks again for working with my daughter, it made all the difference,” said Chavi Rosenblum of Passaic.

Shayowitz told The Jewish Link: “For me, this partnership is a natural outcome of the conversations I’ve had with many clients on financial matters. This is a smart addition to the support I can offer them. Wayfind helps to identify their super talents, so they can expand their careers or find new ones.”

To learn more about Wayfind Careers, contact Shayowitz at www.shmuelshayowitz.com

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback.